When Li Yuan stepped out of the Ancient Spatial Ring, the world felt slightly… tilted. No, wait. It was he who was tilting. He stood up straight, and the world straightened up as well. Hehe.

  There's probably something very wise hiding in that thought. Straighten yourself up and the world straightens itself.

  He picked up a nearby bronze mirror and saw that while the bleeding had stopped, and the tearing pain in his skull had dulled to a manageable throb, his brain still felt a bit swollen. And his mind felt a bit foggy.

  Plus, he was covered in blood, and his robes were also caked in dried blood and dust. So he'll need to clean himself up before doing that. A good thing that his room already had a pail of water. Ah, the perks of living in a medieval type setting. You have flying ships, but you also have chamber pots. How wonderful.

  Once he had cleaned up and changed into new robes, he finally dismantled the 1st-tier concealment formation in his room and slid open the door…

  And nearly walked into a wall of relatives.

  The fuck?

  He glanced up and saw his uncles, aunts, elders, and even a few of his younger cousins hovering in the back. For a moment, they all simply looked at him, and he looked back.

  He then looked down at the soft place where he had collided. "Aunt Meimei. You were always a bountiful one."

  Silence.

  "…did I say that out loud?"

  "Yes, you did." Aunt Meimei said, her eye twitching in annoyance even if there was a huge smile on her face. She then raised her fist threateningly. "It seems that going to the Nine Peak Sect has made you quite bold. How about letting your aunt give you a bath. For old times sake."

  He shuddered violently at her words and backed off in fear. "No. Please. Anything but that."

  While his soul had entered this body as an adult and he had not personally experienced Aunt Meimei's legendary baths, he still had plenty of memories in his mind. In those memories, she would get hold of Li Yuan and other Li family children and help them with their bath after a long day spent playing in the mud.

  That alone was not a problem. Except, she bathed them with too much enthusiasm. And more often than not, Li Yuan had feared that she had stripped the skin off his back. Only to look back and see that it was only slightly red.

  Admittedly, she did take out a pound of dirt from all their bodies, but that was besides the point. He would rather be covered in dirt than have a bath like that. To this day, the body still suffered from PTSD from those baths.

  Suffice to say, he had no interest in reliving those memories.

  His aunt laughed at his words. The witch. "Hah! So you still know to fear your aunt, huh, you little brat!"

  "Yes, yes. Now move aside." Someone said and pushed Aunt Meimei to the side. This time, it was his granduncle who was now staring at him critically. "Look at you brat. Afraid of a simple bath. Is that what they teach you at that sect? Back in my day, we jumped into the Ice cold water of the Twin fork river and even caught a giant fish or two while we were down there. And not just ordinary fish either. But Spirit carps. And now look at you younglings. Afraid of a little water. Hrmp!"

  His eyes twitched at his granduncle's bragging as he cupped his hands in respect. "Granduncle."

  His granduncle nodded, a look of pride appearing on his face. "At least you still know to respect your elder, brat. Good, good. It seems like that Nine Peak sect hadn't completely stripped you of all your manners. Why, back in my day, if someone didn't bow down and kowtow to their elders every morning, they would've hav—"

  "Alright alright. You've bragged enough in front of the children. Now move aside you old thing." His grandaunt said as she roughly pushed his granduncle aside. And came in front of him. Looking him up and down with a scrutinising gaze.

  Oh, no. Not his grandaunt. As chatty as his granduncle was, he would take that old man over his grandaunt any day of the week. After all, his granduncle would only bore you with all his talk. But his grandaunt… gods… her tongue was sharper than a needle. And she'd poke you full of holes by the time she was through with you.

  "Grandaunt." He said, cupping her weakly.

  She let out a hrrump sound and glared at him. "What are you pretending to be respectful now? We've been knocking on your door since dawn. Is your ears full of hay or what?"

  "Aunt. You don't need to be so harsh on Yuan'er." One of his aunts tried to defend him, only to get glared down by his grandaunt.

  "I'll talk to the brat however I damn well please." His grandaunt snorted before looking back at him. Then, suddenly, her stern expression turned into a gentle one, the sudden change being enough to give him goosebumps. She then gently cupped his face and gave him an approving look. "At least he brought back a decent girl with him back home this time." She then looked back at the rest of his cousins, especially at Li Ming. "Look at the rest of you fools. Can't get a single girl. How is the Li clan supposed to thrive in your hands when you can't even get a wife?"

  "Aunt. It's not like that. Me and Rou Lin are simply friends." He said weakly while lamenting ever opening the door to begin with. He should've simply left through the window. In fact, that's exactly what he'll do from the next time.

  "Of course you are. And the next thing you know, the girl has a child in her belly. That's how it happened to me! Oh, Old Kheng was such a rogue back then." She lamented with a faraway expression and his face went green. He really didn't want to listen to his grandaunt's love escapades. Alas, the very next, moment, his grandaunt's eyes zoned back on him. "Seven! I want seven kids at the very least. Do you understand?"

  Seven!? Seven is too much. Why is no one coming to save him from this madness? Where were his parents?

  He blinked. That was actually a very good question.

  "Um… grandaunt. Where are my parents?"

  "In seclusion! Don't know what went through your father's head to enter seclusion at a time like this." His grandaunt snorted. "I always knew that dropping him on his head as a baby would've had consequences."

  His eyes twitched. Grandaunt… that's my father you're talking about.

  "Old woman. Don't forget why we came here in the first place." His granduncle hrrumped as he joined the scene once again. Trying to regain his dignity after being unceremoniously kicked off to the side by his grandaunt.

  "As if I need you to remind me of that!" His grandaunt snapped before turning to face him. She looked at him up and down and then gave an approving nod. "Good enough. Come. You need to join the banquet."

  "Banquet? Didn't we have one last night?" He asked in confusion. Had the Li family suddenly become so wealthy in his absence that they could afford to hold a feast every day.

  His grandaunt gave him an annoyed look. "Of course we did. How else are we supposed to welcome our golden core guest. Do you think we would've held a feast if it were just you coming back alone?"

  His eyes twitched again. This grandaunt. Can't she be a bit more gentle with her words. "Probably not?"

  "Damn right! There will be no feast for you until you've given me those seven great grandkids!" His Grandaunt snapped. "As for this banquet, it's being held for the visitors."

  "Visitors?" He asked, and his slow working brain took a moment to realise what she meant. "Are the other families coming over?"

  "Of course. How could they not? What if the Elder from your sect noticed their absence and took it as disrespect? Wouldn't she simply wipe out their family then?"

  He wanted to say no, but he had heard more than a few such stories in the past, where a powerful cultivator took someone's absence at a banquet held in their honour as an insult and wiped out that person's entire family.

  It was like how back in his world, if you were invited to a wedding and you came, then no one would care. But if you were absent, then the couple would take that as an insult. Now multiply that by a hundred times, and you get a Xianxia world. Where 'face' was a treasure that you really can't afford to lose.

  So, in the end, he simply said "I see. Which families have come so far?"

  "Only our family's subordinate families and the Yu family." His grandaunt said. "Speaking of Yu family. That Yu family patriarch has quite a good looking daughter with wide childbearing hips. Should I go and talk with him about marrying her off to yo—"

  "Later!" He shouted, having had enough of this family drama for now as he pushed past his wall of relatives and ran off. Only to get caught by the back of his neck by his Granduncle who dragged him back in the middle of his relatives once again.

  His granduncle's Foundation Establishment strength was really not for show. Now only if he would act like a dignified elder as well, and not a shameless old fart who kept bragging about the 'good old days'.

  "Brat," his granduncle said, squinting his eyes at him this time. Huh… the old man actually looked serious for once. "Is it true that you've grasped sword Intent?"

  He gave a slow nod and granduncle's face lit up immediately followed by a bark of laughter.

  "Fourteen! Our Li family has produced a genius who learned Sword Intent at Fourteen!" His granduncle echoed loudly. "At fourteen I was still trying to figure out which end of the sword was supposed to cut."

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  "You still are," his grandaunt said flatly from behind him.

  His granduncle ignored her.

  Li Yuan frowned faintly. "Wait," he said slowly, the fog in his brain parting just enough for dread to creep in. "Don't tell me… everyone knows."

  They nodded.

  All of them.

  Eagerly.

  His granduncle winced. "Ahh… some of the younglings were quite… enthusiastic. By the time the news reached us elders, half the training yard had already sworn you were the reincarnation of some ancient Sword Saint."

  "Those little runts can't shut their mouth to save their lives." His Grandaunt said with a snort before her displeased expression turned into a worried frown. "I would be surprised if every prominent family in the Redleaf Prefecture hadn't heard by now."

  His headache suddenly intensified. He could already imagine himself walking by the roadside and some rogue cultivator jumping out from the bushes and challenging him to a sword duel.

  Oh god… he would have to deal with more people from now on, won't he? He could already see his ordinary, peaceful, anti-social life growing wings and flying off to the heavens. He could also imagine his family inviting him to attend banquets like these and their guests asking him to "demonstrate just once."

  As if he was some asian kid who had learned how to play Moonlight Sonata on a piano at age 5. With his feet.

  His soul felt tired just imagining it. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried not to groan.

  "Of Heaven's sake," his granduncle said, leaning in and peering at him. "Why do you look like you lost a drinking contest? Did you and that Rou Lin girl sneak off to your room to drink even more last night?"

  Li Yuan stared at his granduncle. His granduncle stared back.

  His grandaunt's hand shot out and twisted his granduncle's ear.

  "Ow! Woman! I'm a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

  "You are an embarrassment," she corrected as she twisted his ear even more.

  "AH—!"

  Li Yuan felt the fog in his head shift from second-hand embarrassment. "Grandaunt," he said dryly to his granduncle, "please remember that Granduncle is still a Foundation Establishment elder of the family."

  The old man sniffed. "Exactly. I have earned the right to speak nonsense."

  That's… not what he meant.

  His grandaunt finally looked at him and the stern look on her face turned sympathetic. "Still, the old man is not wrong. Rest a bit more if you need. The more prominent families won't arrive by evening."

  He nodded, and then asked a question that he'd been worried about. "Are Elder Zi Mo and Rou Lin being treated well?"

  "Why? Worried about your young flame?" His granduncle asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively, only to let out a pained yelp the very next moment as his grandaunt twisted his ears again.

  "Of course they are. Do you take us for fools?" His grandaunt snapped at him. "Now go back inside and rest some more. Don't come out till you can stand on your own two feet! I want you well rested for the evening banquet."

  "I arranged the seats by the way." Aunt Meimei chimed in. "That girl Rou Lin will be seated beside you. Best of luck little brat."

  Li Yuan felt the last of his patience evaporate.

  "She is an Inner Sect disciple," he said flatly. "And she is here to assist, not to marry me."

  "Mmm," his grandaunt hummed, clearly unconvinced.

  He sighed heavily.

  "You are as sharp as you are short, Grandaunt," he muttered.

  She narrowed her eyes. "I heard that."

  "And you," he said, pointing at his granduncle, "try to retain at least a shred of dignity."

  "I have three shreds left," the old man said proudly. "I guard them carefully."

  …the fuck is that even supposed to mean? You know what… never mind.

  Before they could continue, Li Yuan brushed past them and went back to his room where he promptly closed the door behind him.

  This family…

  "I need some sleep." He thought as he jumped onto his bed and promptly fell asleep.

  —————

  Li Yuan woke to the sound of raised voices coming out from outside. At first he thought he was still dreaming, but the noise didn't fade and instead continued to grow louder till he finally lifted his head from his pillow and blinked the sleep from his eyes.

  Looking outside his window, he saw that the sky had darkened and the horizon had turned sunset red.

  'Is it evening already.' He wondered as the grogginess left him bit by bit. 'I must've slept for hours.'

  He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling beams, memory creeping back in with uncomfortable clarity. Him going out his room and being accosted by his relatives.

  'Did I really said that out loud about Aunt Meimei's breasts.' He thought, pressing his hand over his face in embarrassment.

  'Yes, yes I did.' He thought, and then his lips twitched in amusement despite himself. It wasn't even as if he'd been wrong. That bosom could smother a man to death. Death by snu-snu. The best kind of death in all of multiverse.

  He groaned softly and sat up. "Focus," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if that would dislodge the image. The earlier fog was gone now and his thoughts felt sharp once again. Whatever lingering damage he'd gained from the memory overload seemed to have settled by now.

  It was as he got up from his bed that he finally sensed it. The change in the air.

  It wasn't visible to the naked eye, and a mortal would not notice it at all. But he did so with unmistakable clarity. The ambient Qi in the room, no, in the world around him was drifting away. In fact, using his Spirit Residue Following Technique, he saw that the Ambient Qi from the entire world outside was converging toward this courtyard.

  His posture straightened instantly as he realised what this was even if he'd never seen it himself.

  'Someone is Establishing their Foundation.'

  He did not need long to guess who. Last night he had placed a Foundation Establishment Pill into his mother's hands. Along with a bottle of Heavy Spirit Water. And this morning, his grandaunt had mentioned his parents entering seclusion. At that time, his mind had still been foggy and he hadn't given it much thought. But now, it all made sense.

  He quickly checked himself in a bronze mirror. And after confirming that he didn't look like a complete mess, he stepped out of his room… and noticed that the courtyard was filled with people.

  In fact, the entire Li clan had gathered in the courtyard, elders standing firmly around the courtyard to prevent anyone who might think to disturb the breakthrough. Some of the aunts clutched prayer beads and prayed silently, while younger cousins whispered to each other in clear excitement.

  Beyond them, he noticed the other cultivators, wearing robes of different colours and insignia. He realised that they must've been the guests who came over to Li estate to offer gifts and pay respect to Elder Zi Mo.

  All of their eyes were fixed on the building behind him. Their senses allowing them to sense the Qi vortex forming behind him.

  He also took out his sword and leaned against the doorframe of the building. His meaning clear to anyone. 'If you even think about disturbing my mother's breakthrough, then you'd face my blade.'

  Though he doubted that those Foundation Establishment cultivators truly gave it much thought. To them, a 7th Stage Qi Condensation cultivator must not seem like much of a threat. Even if that Qi Condensation cultivator had touched upon Sword Intent this very morning.

  If only they knew that right now, he was likely the strongest cultivator in all of Redleaf Prefecture. Except for Elder Zi Mo, of course.

  At that moment, his uncle Li Tian pushed through the crowd and came up to him. "Yuan'er," he demanded in a low voice, "what is happening? Who is breaking through right now?"

  "My mother is breaking through to Foundation Establishment."

  His uncle looked worried at those words. "The pills the empire promised us haven't arrived yet. Don't tell me she trying to establish her foundation without one? Doesn't she know how dangerous that is?"

  "You don't need to worry about that, uncle." He said as he lazily swept his gaze through the guests, trying to see if anyone of them had any ulterior motives. "I gave my mother a Foundation Establishment Pill yesterday."

  That silenced his uncle completely. And any other Cultivator who heard his words. Which, with the improved senses of a cultivator meant that everyone in the Foundation Establishment realm had heard his words.

  Because despite the simplicity of his words, they were more of a loud boast.

  After all, in all of Redleaf Prefecture, there were dozens if not hundreds of cultivators who were still stuck at the peak of Qi Condensation Realm. Unable to breakthrough without a Foundation Establishment Pill. And unwilling to take the risk without.

  So, for a cultivator at the 7th stage of Qi Condensation Realm to have such a pill was completely unheard of. And for that cultivator to then give away such a pill… it clearly showed that the cultivator either had immense wealth, or immense support.

  In his case, with him having returned alongside a Golden Core realm expert, the other 9th Grade families in the Redleaf Prefecture would make the most obvious conjecture.

  That he had received great support and backing in the Nine Peak Sect.

  It was not true as he was not backed by any faction in the Sect. But who was going to tell them otherwise?

  His uncle swallowed. "Will she succeed?"

  If Li Yuan had only given her a Foundation Establishment pill, then he wouldn't be sure himself. As even with that pill, there's a 1/5 chance of failure. But add the Heavy Spirit Water, and the chance of breakthrough goes up from 80% to 99.9%.

  Still, he looked up at his Halo, just in case. And seeing no changes in its pristine white colour, he nodded.

  "Yeah. She will. Unless someone interferes."

  The implication did not go unnoticed and his uncle's jaw tightened as he quickly ordered the clan members. "Seal the perimeter."

  His clan members rushed to obey the order while several Foundation Establishment cultivators among the guests stepped forward as well.

  "Please rest assured Daoist Li Tian. We will aid the Li clan in guarding the estate," one of them declared.

  "A breakthrough must not be disturbed." Another declared. And the sentiment spread outward without prompting as they each went over to guard different side of the clan estate.

  After all, with a scion of the family being supported by a Golden Core cultivator, and the family itself having support of the empire, the Li family was definitely going to rise farther and farther up in the future. So befriending them was the obvious thing to do.

  Only the two representatives from the Qin family remained where they stood. Their expressions were polite, but there was no mistaking the stiffness in their posture or the flicker of displeasure in their eyes.

  Another Foundation Establishment cultivator within the Li clan would shift the balance in Redleaf Prefecture even further. They understood that as well as he did and were clearly not happy. But with so many other Foundation Establishment cultivators having given their support to his family, they couldn't do anything about it either.

  Li Yuan cupped his hands formally toward the assisting elders. "Many thanks."

  The vortex of Qi thickened above the inner chamber, compressing as it grew denser and denser. The air thrummed with energy, the pressure building toward a decisive moment.

  Having seen to the defence of this place, he turned and stepped back inside, the noise of the courtyard muffling behind him.

  The closer he went to the inner residence, the heavier the air felt thanks to the vortex of Qi surrounding the area.

  He stopped before the sealed cultivation chamber. Through the thick wooden doors, he could sense two presences inside. One was turbulent, cycling rapidly as it condensed and compressed toward a higher state. The other was steady and controlled. His father, who was standing guard as his mother's dharma protector, stabilising the vortex of Qi for his mother to absorb more easily.

  Li Yuan lowered himself to sit cross-legged before the door. Above the courtyard, the vortex of Qi had grown visible even to the naked eye, spiralling downward like a faintly luminous funnel. Streams of ambient energy poured inward, but as he observed it closely, a slight crease formed between his brows.

  The flow was strong but it still felt a bit lacking to him. So he did not hesitate.

  With a flick of his sleeve, several hundred spirit stones spilled onto the ground before him. He placed his palm over the pile and crushed them in one decisive motion.

  The stones shattered with sharp cracks, disintegrating into powder as pure spiritual energy burst free. Instead of dispersing, the released Qi surged upward and was caught by the vortex, folding into it seamlessly. The funnel thickened as the additional energy joined the flow.

  'This should be more than enough.' He thought as he allowed himself to relax slightly.

  Time stretched and the sun finally set into the horizon. The sky went dark as the stars slowly emerge.

  Then, all of a sudden, a muffled boom reverberated through the chamber. And suddenly, Li Yuan could feel two Foundation Establishment cultivators inside the Cultivation Chamber.

  A slow smile formed on his lips as he knew that this meant his mother has successfully broken through. Moments later, the chamber door creaked open.

  His father stepped out first, posture straight and proud despite the exhaustion lining his features. Behind him emerged his mother, a beaming smile on her face.

  She looked… younger. Not that she had looked old before, but now she seemed to have transformed. The faint lines at the corner of her eyes had vanished. Her complexion glowed with renewed vitality. She looked no older than a woman in her early twenties, and her aura had grown dense and refined.

  For a heartbeat, Li Yuan simply looked at her. Then he cupped his hands formally. "Congratulations, Mother, on advancing to Foundation Establishment."

  His mother nodded. The formality lasted less than a second before she crossed the distance between them and pulled him into a tight embrace. The force of it nearly knocked the breath from his lungs.

  "You reckless child," she murmured against his shoulder, though her voice trembled with emotion rather than anger. "You should not have wasted such treasures on me."

  He allowed himself a small, genuine smile. "It was not a waste." He said before pulling himself away from the hug. "That said, I have another gift for you."

  His father chuckled, stepping closer. "What is next, Yuan'er? Don't tell me, you'll present us with a pill to reach Golden Core as well?"

  Li Yuan rolled his eyes lightly. "Reach peak Foundation Establishment first. Then we will discuss such nonsense."

  Before they could say more, he ushered them back into the chamber and closed the door firmly behind them, sealing the sound out from the courtyard.

  Then, he retrieved a jade box from his ancient Spatial ring, presenting it to his parents. "Here. Open it."

  Both his parents exchanged puzzled looks but then they accepted the jade box and opened it. Inside lay two dark, metallic insects no larger than a thumb.

  His parents gave him a confused look at that, not knowing much about Gu.

  "Iron-Will Binding Gu," he explained calmly. "They give a cultivator the ability to subdue and bind spiritual beasts. Go on. Place them within your dantian and refine them."

  His mother frowned. "Yuan'er, you have already given us too much. We cannot accept these. You should keep these for when you reach Foundation Establishment realm and form your own dantian."

  His father's expression turned serious as well. "Your mother is right Yuan'er. You should keep these Gu yourself."

  Li Yuan met their gaze evenly. "Don't worry mom, dad. I have my own considerations. Trust me when I say that I have no need for either of these Gu. So accept them with peace of mind, and use them to protect the clan."

  His words soothed their worries and after some more persuasion, they finally accepted the two Gu.

  After that came the refining part. Which could usually take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. But once he used his sword intent to scare the Gu, they eagerly allowed his parents to subdue and refine them without any fuss.

  When it was done, Li Yuan finally reached into his Hibernation Pouch and withdrew two massive, slumbering forms. The Mistfang Direwolves hit the stone floor with a heavy thud, their silver grey fur bristling faintly as they slowly stirred away.

  His parents' eyes widened.

  "Where did you—"

  "No time," he cut in calmly. "Bind them while their consciousness is still suppressed."

  His parents nodded and Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure filled the chamber as they acted swiftly. With the Iron-Will Binding Gu strengthening their control, and with the Mistfang Direwolves having already been bound once, the process went smoothly and it wasn't long before they were under full control of his parents.

  When it was finished, the two Mistfang Direwolves opened their golden, intelligent eyes and lowered their heads obediently.

  Li Yuan looked at his parents, then at the two bound beasts, and allowed himself a slow, satisfied breath.

  These two Mistfang Direwolves were Low-stage 2nd Grade Beasts. Capable of going toe to toe against Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Add them and his mother to the mix, and it can be said that the Li family now had 7 Foundation Establishment level combatants (Excluding him).

  Of course, of those seven his grandfather won't count as he now only had a few years to live. But he intended to change that in the upcoming days.

  With this, even if he returned to the sect today and did not ever return, this strength should be more than enough for them to eventually become an 8th Grade family.

  That thought made him smile.

  "Come, mom, dad. Let's join the banquet." He said. "It's time to show the world that the Li clan is no longer what it once used to be."